Building construction



1934- F. M. VENZIE 1,971,999

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed April 18, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR; REDER/c/rM. Xswz/E,

A TTCRNEY.

Aug. 28, 1934. F. M., VENZIE 1,971,999

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed April 18, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

% FREDERI CHMfiWZ/EF ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 28, 1934 UNI-T so: STATE-Sf enses PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention, stated ingeneral terms, relates to a building constructionand has more especial relation to a suspended ceiling formed of precast slabs.

The leading object of the present invention maybe said to reside in the provision of-a construction ofparts which are comparatively simple and relatively inexpensive, and which parts may be expeditiously assembled by unskilled v labor.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of 'a construction of the character stated in which the ceiling slabs are provided with novel means whereby the same may 1551 be readily suspended and efficiently held in position.

A further object of the present invention resides in a construction of the character stated in which adjacent slabs may be readily coupled to- 2045 gether independently of the suspension means.

Other and further objects of the present invention reside in the provision of general details of construction and in the arrangement, combination, and connection of parts for attaining the results sought by the foregoing objects.

The invention consists of the novel construction hereinafter described and finally claimed.

The nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view principally in section illustrating one mode of suspending my novel ceiling slabs; Fig. 2 is a View in cross section of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in plan illustrating one end of my novel ceiling slab;

Fig. 4 is an end view of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, principally in section, illustrating another mode of suspending my novel ceiling slab;

Fig. 6 is a top or plan view of a plurality of ceiling slabs in assembled position; and

Fig. 7 is a view in cross-section taken upon the line 7--7 of Fig. 6.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawings several forms thereof which are at present preferred by me, since the same have been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my 55. invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instru nentalities as herein shown and described. 7

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 10 designates a floor of con crete or the like supported upon floor members as I-beams 11. The reference numeral 12 designates a ceiling slab of precast cementitious material" arranged for suspension beneath the fioor" 10. Each ceiling slab 12 has embedded therein throughout its length reinforcing rods 13. These rods 13 parallel the side walls of aslab and pass through cut-away portions 14 of tlie 'side walls of a slab. Each end of a slab 12 is cut away or slotted as at 15 for the accommodation of suspension hooks 16. These hooks are usually formed of heavy wire and have pivotal relation with cross rods 17 which. extend across the ends of the slabs including the slots 15. Each of these rods 17 is of angular formation with the lowest part thereof embedded in a slab immediately adjacent the slab bottom and with its end projected upwardly to that part which crosses the slots 15, at which point each rod 17 "lies very close to the upper surface of a slab to provide a pivot point for the hooks 16. Also extended laterally 801 of each slab 12 and embedded therein are other rods 18 the ends of which are up-turned and lie upon the longitudinal reinforcing rods 13, as best seen in Fig. 4. The slabs 12 upon one side are cut away as at 19, and upon their opposite sides are each provided with an extension 20 and a longitudinal slot 21 immediately above said extension. The rods 13'extend along the cutaway portion 19 and slotted portion 21, as best seen in Fig. 4, for the purpose of reinforcing said 901 cut-away and slotted portions. The sides of the slabs are provided with ribbed and recessed portions to form an inter-lock between adjacent slabs. With the ribbed and recessed portions of adjacent slabs associated together the slabs may be suspended in several ways.

A description will first be given of the method of suspension as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 in which is shown metal clips for securing the ceiling slabs to the lower flanges of the I-beams 11. Each of these clips comprises a thin metal stamping formed in one piece and comprising a body 22, the lower portion of which has extended therefrom at right angles thereto oppositely disposed spaced fingers 23 above which are arranged other 'T fingers 24 which parallel the fingers 23. These fingers 23 and 24 are adapted to receive the edges of adjacent slabs, as clearly seen in Fig. 2. The body 22 is slotted as at 25 to engage over the lower flange of an I-beam 11, as best seen in Fig. 1103'.-

1. In practice the lower fingers 23 of a body 22 are caused to engage within the slotted portion 21 of the slabs 12.

Instead of supporting the ceiling slabs from an I-beam as just described, I may support the slabs from a plasterers channel 26, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and '7. According to this construction of parts the hooks 16, which are pivoted upon the rods 13 and accommodated by the slots 15 of the slabs, are caused to engage over the tops of the plasterers channels. The construction of the slabs 12 is similar to the previously described slabs. In order to provide stability I may couple adjacent ceiling slabs with respect to the plasterers channels by means of relatively thin wire 28 which is passed up over theplasterers channels and the free ends of the Wire twisted together as clearly shown in Fig. 7. In this connection it is to be noted that the wires 28 are positioned in v upon one side and being provided with longituthe cut-away portions 14 of the ceiling slabs and the wire is caused to engage around the reinforcing rods 13 prior to twisting of the free ends of the wire. It is sometimes desirable to further couple adjacent slabs together at such points where there are no plasterers channels. For this purpose I make use'oi a clip designated 29 which is of metal and is provided with fingers for engaging the opposite sides of a ceiling slab, which position of parts is illustrated in Fig. 6.

What is claimed is:

1. In a suspended ceiling construction, a suitably supported floor of iireproofing material, precast ceiling slabs of fireproofing material suspended with respect to said floor, each slab being provided with a continuous longitudinal recess upon one side and being provided with longitudinal spaced projections uponits opposite side for co-operative interlock with said recess, parallel, longitudinally extended rods embedded in said slabs for reinforcing the Walls of said recesses and said spaced projections said rods extending into said projections, laterally extended reinforcing rods for bracing said longitudinally extended rods, and clips for co-operatively engaging adjacent ceiling slab sides for independently coupling said slabs together.

2. In a suspended ceiling construction, a suitably supported floor of fireproofing material, precast ceiling slabs of fireproofing material suspended with respect to said floor, each slab being provided with a continuous longitudinal recess dinal spaced projections upon its opposite side for co-operative interlock with said recess, that side of a slab having said projections being slitted longitudinally, parallel longitudinally extended rods embedded in said slabs for reinforcing the walls of said recesses and said spaced projections said rods extending into said projections, laterally extended reinforcing rods for bracing said longitudinally extended rods, and clips co-operatively engaging said slits for attachment with respect to said floor support.

' FREDERICK M. VENZIE. 

